‘Gerrard did nothing for his country’- Senegals’ El Hadji Diouf

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Senegalese football legend El Hadji Diouf had a drawn-out row with former Liverpool team-mates such as Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.

Even today, Diouf and Gerrard continue their feud through the media. So what exactly is the problem?

“I have no problem with him,” Diouf said. “He [Gerrard] is a strong character and I am a strong character.

“‘Stevie G’ was a very good player. People like him in Liverpool but he never did anything for his country. I am Mr El Hadji Diouf, Mr Senegal but he is Mr Liverpool and Senegal is bigger than Liverpool and he has to know that.”

Diouf is working in Senegal as a government goodwill ambassador. He is President Macky Sall’s adviser on sport as well as running his own sports newspaper business in Dakar – and is often mobbed by young people when he visits his gym in the city.

“My life is about sport but the government cannot do everything alone, they need help from people like me,” Diouf said.

“The president believes in me and that’s why when I finished playing football, he called me and told me he wants me to help because the young generation believe in me. I am an example to them.”

Image captionPresident Macky Sall employs Diouf as a sports adviser

Asked if he would consider a role in politics, Diouf said he was concentrating on helping to develop his country – but could not rule out entering politics in future.

He said: “I am interested because we have to make things change. People like me can make things change.

“We have a country to build, a continent to build and why not be involved in politics tomorrow?”